Inside the gorge.
By now, both sects had suffered heavy casualties. Pain and the looming threat of death gradually extinguished the disciples' initial frenzy.
Sensing the change, Su Su's expression shifted slightly, and she looked at Lin Xian'er.
"Lin Xian'er, if we keep fighting, both our sects will only suffer mutual destruction. How about we stop here?"
Lin Xian'er nodded without hesitation. "Agreed."
In her mind, this battle should never have happened. Yet, when emotions boiled, she could not hold the disciples back. Now that some sanity returned, it was indeed time to end this farce.
Just as the two were about to call back their sects, a streak of azure light suddenly descended from the heavens.
On one side of the battlefield, Gao Ming was locked in a bitter duel with Ye Qingxue.
Both were at the early Foundation Establishment stage, and after prolonged fighting, neither could overcome the other.
But then—
Before Gao Ming could react, the azure light pierced through his body.
Scorching flames erupted from within him, reducing him to ashes in an instant.
The streak of light, undiminished, shot straight at Ye Qingxue.
Her eyes flashed; panic flitted across her face as she barely evaded.
The light missed, then shot upward, condensing into a small bird covered in blue feathers, no larger than a palm.
"That strange bird again!"
Su Su and Lin Xian'er halted at once, their faces paling.
Memories clicked, and both shouted in unison:
"Scatter—quickly!"
But before the words fully left their lips, the bird spread its wings.
Twin torrents of azure flame cascaded downward like waterfalls, flooding the battlefield.
The fire swept outward at terrifying speed.
Su Su and Lin Xian'er managed only to shield a handful of disciples beside them before the sea of flames engulfed everything.
Miserable screams tore through the gorge.
Those below the Foundation stage had no resistance at all. They were burned into nothingness within moments.
In just five breaths, the once-deafening battlefield fell into deathly silence.
As the flames died, Lin Xian'er and Su Su withdrew their defenses, revealing their battered forms.
Only a handful of survivors remained beside them.
"Old bastard!"
They cursed furiously, exchanging a glance before both charged toward the strange bird.
But—
A shadow abruptly cut across their path, hurling fierce spiritual power at them.
"Bai Xiruo!"
Lin Xian'er barely blocked, her face darkening at the sight.
She had forgotten—Bai Xiruo had not left. Now things were even worse.
That bird was already overwhelming; neither she nor Su Su could withstand it alone.
Her gaze swept the battlefield and lit up when it fell on Ye Qingxue, who was still alive.
If Ye Qingxue joined with Su Su, they might not win, but they could at least resist.
"Ye Qingxue!" Lin Xian'er shouted. "Go, join Su Su—hold off that monster bird!"
Ye Qingxue's eyes flickered. She glanced upward ever so slightly, then smiled faintly.
"Very well!"
With that, she flew toward the bird.
Relieved, Lin Xian'er turned to her sect's survivors. "You must leave the secret realm at once!"
Since the bird was here, that old monster was surely nearby. These mere Qi Refining juniors could not survive here.
"You too—leave now!" Su Su barked at her own sect's remnants as she stood beside Ye Qingxue to block the bird.
At once, the surviving disciples fled toward the exit.
"Hah! Did you ask your Grandpa Wang's permission to leave?"
A figure dropped from the sky.
One punch blasted out—
A shockwave erupted, exploding half the fleeing disciples on the spot.
Then thunder split the skies.
Bolts of lightning crashed down, charring the rest into smoking husks.
In the blink of an eye, all who had tried to escape were annihilated.
"You old bastard!"
"Damn beast!"
Su Su and Lin Xian'er's faces twisted with rage. They longed to tear Wang Jianqiang apart, but they knew full well the truth: the tide had turned completely.
If they stayed, even survival was uncertain.
The two made their choice instantly.
Lin Xian'er endured a strike from Bai Xiruo, forcing her way toward the exit despite her wounds.
Su Su let the azure flames sear her flesh, struggling desperately in the same direction.
Ye Qingxue hesitated briefly—then followed.
But to Su Su's growing frustration, though she ran ahead, the strange bird focused only on her, spewing flames to bar her path. Ye Qingxue, a step behind, was left untouched.
Just as the three neared the exit, another figure materialized, blocking their path.
At the sight of him, Su Su and Lin Xian'er's killing intent surged. They sped up instead of slowing.
"Old dog! We were looking for a chance to kill you, and you dare stand in our way!"
But Wang Jianqiang only raised his hand.
A jade talisman shimmered green in his palm.
With a wave, emerald light spread outward, forming a glowing prison that trapped them inside.
The crushing pressure froze their movements.
"This is… Brother Wuyá's talisman!"
"Where did you get this?!"
Lin Xian'er's pupils quivered violently. The fact that Xiao Wuyá still hadn't appeared near the exit already troubled her. Now, seeing his treasured talisman here, dread gnawed at her heart.
Wang Jianqiang chuckled. "Want to know? Get on your knees and beg."
"You—!" Lin Xian'er's fury rose.
But before she could act, Su Su roared, detonating her immense physical strength. With brute force, she shattered the glowing prison.
"Escape first!" she shouted.
Lin Xian'er snapped to her senses. She too noticed the bird and Bai Xiruo closing in.
The two braced to block their foes and break through—
But suddenly, two flying swords pierced from behind.
They tried to dodge, but the blades were too close. Both avoided their vitals but were run clean through.
Blood spilled from their lips as they staggered back, staring in shock at the attacker.
"Ye Qingxue—you're insane?!"
But Ye Qingxue only smiled faintly.
"Sorry," she said. "I'm an undercover agent."